May 2018 Project Martha – Historical & Archaeological Background 19 capital of £100,000 (Figure 12).90 The company progressed works and by 1898 nine miners were employed and ‘a shaft 6ft. by 3ft. was sunk to depth of 175ft., a level was opened at 100ft. down, and 200ft. of driving was done on a reef 6ft. in width; winze was also sunk on this reef, the quartz improving in quality as sinking progressed.’91 Work carried on at the mine until the turn of the century; however, by 1901 operations had been confined to the No. 3 level main reef.92 Between 1895 and 1898 the Favona shaft (NZAA T13/306) was sunk to the north of Silverton Hill (NZAA T13/819).93 In April 1895 the Thames Advertiser reported that ‘Charlie McLean is prospecting on the Favona, and has cut several grand leaders…As Charlie is an old Thames man, and as good as ever broke bread, it is to be hoped he will retire to your city with something “up his sleeve” or at his Bank account which will stand a few “doch in doris”.’94 The following year the claim was taken over by the Favona Brilliant Gold Mining Company, which was successfully floated in London with a capital of £200,000.95 An initial shaft was excavated to a depth of 70ft and later extended to 310ft after the mine was amalgamated into the Waihi Consolidated Gold Mining Company in 1897.96 A summary of the company’s holding was provided by the New Zealand Herald in August 1897: ‘WAIHI CONSOLIDATED. The property consists of the mines known as the Favona, Brilliant, and Martha United, and is bounded by the Silverton on the south, Waitete on the east and north, Ohinemuri on the north, and Grand Junction on the west. The company was formed about two years ago, and the first work undertaken was the sinking of a shaft which was put down 90 feet. At the 70-feet level a crosscut was put in and a large reef cut. The quartz was of poor quality, containing gold, but not in anything like payable quantities, the best assay running up to 32s per ton. It was anticipated that the reef would improve at a depth, and sinking was resumed, the shaft now being down 217 feet, and still on quartz. At the present time a chamber is being excavated for the cistern, while the plunger and mains will soon be in position. A crosscut at 200 feet will be commenced east and west. The lode mentioned is distinct altogether from the Silverton reefs. The machinery has been erected under the supervision of Mr. Milner, and the whole plant will shortly be in proper working order. The machinery consists of a Tangye winding engine, 25 horse power, driven by a 16 feet by 6 feet multitubular boiler. The pumping engine is of 260 horse power, the plunger having a 12-inch lift, making 26 strokes to the minute, and capable of lifting 24,000 gallons per hour, when being driven at a low rate of speed. The pumping engine has a tenton fly-wheel, and the engine has been set on 16 feet of concrete. Under the supervision of Messrs. Milner and Chas. McLean (the mine manager) work is being expeditiously carried on, and it is expected that pumping will be commenced in a few weeks’ time.’97 90 Feilding Star¸ 4 June 1896, p.2. 91 AJHR 1898 C-03, p.70. 92 AJHR 1901 C-03, p.56. 93 NZAA Site Record T13/306. 94 Thames Advertiser¸ 1 April 1895, p.3. 95 Auckland Star, 20 March 1896, p.3. 96 NZAA Site Record T13/306. 97 New Zealand Herald¸ 16 August 1897, p.5.
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